Seal



May 3, 1949. G. R. coss SEAL Filed Oct. 22. 1945 INVENTOIL Patented May3, 1949 SEAL George R. Coss, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Eureka WilliamsCorporation, a corporation of Michi- Application October 22, 1945,Serial No. 623,721

4 Claims. (Cl. 286-41) This invention relates to seals for providing arunning joint between relatively rotating parts. y Principal objects ofthe invention are to provide:

A new and improved seal;

A seal which is particularly adapted for use in applications whereabrasive materials are encountered;

A seal employing a graphite sealing ring in which means are provided toprotect the sealing surface of the graphite sealing ring from abraslvesand other material that might adversely affect the utility thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims and will be understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which there is one sheet, which, by way ofillustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof andwhat I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplatedapplying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodyingthe same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes maybe made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe present invention and the purview of the appended claims. I alsocontemplate that of the several different features of my invention,certain ones thereof may be advantageously employed in some applicationsseparate and apart from the remainder of the features.

In the drawings Fig. i' is a vertical sectional view of a seal embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a view on a reduced scale taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 .but illustrating a modified form ofthe invention.

As illustrated in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, awall I is provided with an opening therethrough, such opening dening theseat I2. A shaft I4 projects through the opening. A bellows I6 issecured in the seat I2 and sealed thereto. The bellows I6 includes anaxially projecting neck or cylindrical portion I8 which extends towardone face of the opening through the wall I0. The inner cylindricalsurface of the neck |8 comprises a cylindrical sealing surface. Thebellows is made of a suitable resilient material, such as neoprene orsome other rubber-like material.

A member 22 fixed to the shaft I4 for rotation therewith is providedwith an annular sealing surface 24 and a cylindrical sealing surface 28,the surface 28 being engaged by the surface 20 of the neck I8 so as toprovide a seal therebetween.

The bellows I8 is further provided with an inwardly extending circularportion 28 having a bead 30 seated in and sealed to an annular groove 32formed in one end of sealing member 34. The sealing member 34 is annularand formed of graphite. It has an annular sealing surface 36 engageablewith the annular surface 24 of the member 22 so as to provide a runningseal therebetween. 'Ihe sealing surfaces 24 and 36 are smoothly finishedplanar surfaces.

A spring 38 comprising a disc having a plurality of radially extendingarms 40 is arranged so that the central partof the spring 38 bearsagainst the bead 30 thereby urging the same into the groove 32 andthereby urging the sealing face 36 of the sealing member 34 intoengagement with the annular sealing surface 24 of the sealing member 22.

'I'he outer ends of the spring 38 are seated on a retainer 42 comprisinga flat washer-like element which is secured to the wall by means of aseries of screws 44. The spring 38 is provided with a plurality ofinwardly extending tongues 46 which project into notches y4|! in thesealing member 34 so as to prevent rotation thereof.

As illustrated the seal construction is for the purpose of preventingleakage of fluid from the container of which the wall III forms thebottom. It will be observed that a double seal is provided, one by theengagement of the surfaces 26 and 2|), and the other by the engagementof the surfaces 24 and 36. The shaft I4 may comprise the shaft of anelectric motor. The bellows I8 per.- mits axial movement of the sealingmember 34 in order to follow whatever limited axial movement of themember 22 might be present in the assembly.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the construction is quitesimilar except that the end of the bellows does not project below theend of the sealing member |34. In this case the sealing member |34 isprovided with an annular flange |36 which is received between and sealedto the bifurcations |38 provided on the end 6l of the bellows. Inaddition the spring 38 bears directly against the end of the sealingmember |34 as compared with the arrangement in Fig. 1 where the springbears against the bead 38. The construction and operation of the sealshown in Fig. 3 otherwise is essentially the same as that described inconnection with Fig. 1.

While I prefer to. make the ring 34 of graphite, it may be made of anyother suitable material. If desired a spring IIII may be employed tohelp retain the bellows seated and sealed in its seat in the opening inthe wall l0.

While I have illustrated and described pre-` ferred embodiments of myinvention, it is understood that these are capable of modification and Itherefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details seil forth.but desire to avail my-` -self of such changes and alterations as fallwithin the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Seal construction for a wall having an.

opening defining a seat with a shaft extending through said opening, abellows having one end thereof secured in and sealed to said seat, asealing ring surrounding said shaft and carried by and sealed to theother end of said bellows, a sealing member secured to said shaft andhaving an annular sealing surface and a cylindrical scaling surface,said sealing ring having an ani nular sealing surface engaged with saidannular sealing surface of said sealing member, and said bellows havinga cylindrical sealing surface engaged with said cylindrical sealingsurface of said sealing member, and means resiliently urging saidannular sealing,r surfaces in engagement.

2. Seal construction according to claim 1 4 whereinsaid means comprisesla spring bearing against said other end oi` said bellows.

3. Seal construction according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises aspring bearing againstsaidring.

4. Seal construction comprising a bellows of resilient material, asealing ring connected and sealed to one end of said bellows and nestedtherein, a sealing member having an annular sealing surface and acylindrical sealingsurface, said sealing ring having an annular sealingsurface engaged with said annular sealing surface of said sealing memberand said bellows having a cylindrical sealing surface engaged with saidcylindrical sealing surface of said sealing member, and meansresiliently urging said annular sealing surfaces in engagement.

GEORGE R. COSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'vare of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,840,127 Penney Jan. 5, 1932v1,851,032 Bischof Mar. 29, 1932 2,295,627 Beier Sept. 15, 1942

